Immigration officials briefly detain Senator Natasha, and husband, impound passport, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja
Officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday morning, caused a momentary travel scare as they seized the international passport of suspended Kogi Central lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on her way to board a British Airways flight to London.
Eyewitnesses at the airport said the Senator arrived at the international terminal of the airport with her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, only to be stopped by immigration officials who flagged her as a “national security risk.”
The incident occurred in the early hours of July 24, 2025, just before boarding commenced for the London-bound flight.
Travellers reported that Senator Natasha remained calm and composed throughout the ordeal, insisting that the officers had no legal authority to seize her passport.
“The court never authorised this. You have no right to hold my passport,” she was overheard telling the officers, while urging them to allow her to proceed.
No official explanation was provided to the Senator at the time of the seizure, further fueling suspicions of political interference.
Her husband, Chief Uduaghan was seen making a series of urgent phone calls as the delay dragged on.
Minutes later, the senator’s passport was returned without any formal explanation, allowing her to swiftly proceed through immigration and board her flight just in time.
The incident sparked murmurs among travellers with observers describing the situation as an unnecessary embarrassment and a potential abuse of institutional power.
Neither the Nigeria Immigration Service nor the office of the Senate President has issued a statement on the matter.